Babylonstoren offers an authentic experience of 1700s’ Boland farm life, with all the luxury of modern convenience. Located at the foot of the Simonsberg Mountain, between Paarl and Franschhoek in the Western Cape region of South Africa.

Today it’s a farm, a farm guesthouse, a restaurant, greenhouse, bakery, charcuterie, dairy, larder, spa, cellar and a learning centre for our people. Babylonstoren is also home to an organic food garden of a great diversity: eight acres of vegetables and aromatic herbs.

Our guest suites echo Cape Dutch farm buildings. The style developed in the Cape Colony of the 17th and 18th century: outer walls are whitewashed and decorated with ornate gables and thatched roofs. Interiors are pleasantly cool in summer (due to thick walls) and are heated by open hearths in winter.

Babylonstoren has an exceptionally well-preserved werf. It consists of a main residence, old cellar, koornhuis (where wheat and hay was stored) and row of service buildings, bell tower, ornate fowl pen and dove cote surrounded by the traditional low whitewashed walls. Some of these have been converted into guest accommodation, while a disused kraal was turned into our restaurant, Babel. Limited guest accommodation is available adjacent to the garden. We love the original architecture of the Drakenstein Valley and its sympathetic blending with landscape and climate. We also want to reflect its fine craftsmanship.

Our Garden Spa expresses the rhythm of the seasons on the farm, and in the Garden. Early every morning fresh herbs are picked for use in the Spa’s daily rituals and the Spa Food Menu is shaped by what is ripe and delicious.The quintessential Babylonstoren Garden Spa experience is the Private Hammam Water Ritual in the marble hammam. Choose between the full hour water ritual with traditional scrub, dynamic stretching and massage or the intense Babylonstoren honey and salt scrub. There is also a wonderful selection of classic treatments to be enjoyed in our light and spacious spa rooms. Visit the steam room, sauna, heated jet pool or cold plunge pool and then unfurl and relax in our chill room or bamboo garden and select something wonderful to eat. Sip fresh juices and enjoy whole fruits from unusual varietals as well as mouthwatering salads and exquisite bowls of lentils or soba noodles. You’ll leave our spa feeling refreshed and replenished!

“This is truly a unique place. An epic series of gardens that – alone – make this a destination visit is combined with wonderful guest cottages and a “to die for” restaurant with the ingredients sourced from the garden. Just an unbelievable combination in a setting Hawequas mountains in the background. There is a reason the reputation of this property spans the globe !”

It keeps getting busier – and harder to book a room – so make sure to plan well in advance if you want to sleep over.